#141 Tapas & Togetherness
September Niyama Membership Focus + Free Meditations
One of the most difficult parts of my yoga journey over the last 15 years has been cultivating discipline, or tapas. Tapas, the third niyama, is the practice of showing up for your practice—even when you don’t want to, and especially when you don’t want to. This has been one of the greatest gifts of the spiritual community I began building online during the pandemic.
We started this sangha in 2020. It has evolved a lot over the years, but what remains steady is the heart of it: showing up together. It helps me stay committed to my practice as much as it helps the people who join. Right now, I lead a Members Meditation Circle meeting every Sunday at 8:30am EST (8:30pm Bali Time). I’ve also added an additional gathering at 5:00pm Bali time on Sundays to include more time zones. Our community manager Sarah also leads meetings, which makes our circle even stronger.
The sangha comes together to stay committed—to our practice, our studies, and each other. It’s a small group, but deeply connected.
Each month we explore a yoga philosophy theme with readings, meditations, journal prompts, and discussion questions. For September, our focus will be on the Niyamas. Here’s what we’ll study together:
Week 1 (Sept 7) — Śauca (Purity / Cleanliness)
Focus on cleansing inner and outer space. Explore simplicity, clearing clutter (digital or physical), and calming the mind through breath.Week 2 (Sept 14) — Santoṣa (Contentment)
Reflection on gratitude and presence. What would it mean to release striving and truly notice the beauty of the here and now?Week 3 (Sept 21) — Tapas (Discipline / Heat)
Dive into discipline as spiritual fire. How do daily commitments and consistent practice transform us?Week 4 (Sept 28) — Svādhyāya + Īśvara Praṇidhāna (Self-Study & Surrender)
These two remind us of balance: effort and release.Svādhyāya: studying sacred texts, journaling, and reflecting inward.
Īśvara Praṇidhāna: surrendering what we find to the Divine, trusting the process, and offering our practice beyond ourselves.
Together, they remind us that self-inquiry is not just for our own growth, but for alignment with something greater.
✨ Back-to-School Special: This week we’re opening 10 membership spots at 50% off! Instead of $99/month it’s $50/month, and instead of $990/year it’s $550/year. If you’ve been thinking of joining, this is the perfect time to recommit to your yoga and meditation practice in community. Grab one of these spots here before they go!
Free Meditations This Week
If you’d like to try before you join, I’m offering FREE meditations on Zoom this week. Each one is based on Patanjali’s tools for stilling the mind:
Monday – Yoga Sutra 1.34: Breath Awareness
Focus on the natural rhythm of the breath to create steadiness, clarity, and calm.Tuesday – Yoga Sutra 1.35: Sensing the Present Moment
Anchor awareness on one sensation—sound, feeling, or energy—building mindfulness and patience.Wednesday – Yoga Sutra 1.36: Inner Light Meditation
Connect with the divine spark within: the steady, unchanging light of consciousness.Thursday – Yoga Sutra 1.37: Contemplating the Teacher’s Mind
Reflect on the qualities of those free from attachment—wisdom, compassion, equanimity—and invite them into your own practice.Friday – Yoga Sutra 1.38: Resting in the Subtle Mind
Explore dream imagery, pre-sleep spaciousness, or quiet inner states as pathways into meditation.
You can book all of these here.
Upcoming Offerings
Sept 1, 2025 – Our 300-Hour Advanced Teacher Training in Bali begins. If you’re spontaneous and want to join last-minute, come!
https://www.themindfullifepractice.com/2025-300-hour-ytt-in-baliIndia Women’s Retreat: 2 Spots Left!!
https://www.alcoholfreeretreats.com/india200-Hour Bali YTTs in 2026
I just announced these yesterday over email. I am so excited because they will be the first trainings hosted in my yoga shala in Bali! Join us.
Winter: January 4–25, 2026
Spring: April 5–26, 2026
Summer: July 5–26, 2026
Fall: October 4–25, 2026
https://www.mindfulbali.com/200-hour-ytt
2026 Advanced Teacher Training & Internship Info — coming soon!